Pssst

Jockey Luke Nolen had something to cheer about at Flemington on Saturday when he rode Good Value to a win in Race 2 on Stakes Day, but it was this move (above) after accepting his trophy that got Pssst's attention. We're pretty sure that Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt would be less than impressed with a horse doing all the work over 100 metres.

Racing For The Future is a new youth racing club, but don't be fooled that it's only about the youngsters. At the club's Albert Park launch party on Thursday night, Pssst spotted none other than Collingwood board member and successful horse-owner Jack Kennedy. Although nearly double the age of some of the guests, Kennedy was in fine form as he schooled young punters about the glory days of racing. The owner of former Caulfield Cup winner Sky Heights entertained all comers with racing tales from the 1970s that would make current racing scandals seem like a dodgy tradie exposé on ACA. Jack also confessed to his young audience the importance of ruthlessness as a leading owner. "I've had 76 trainers, you find me another owner that has been through as many as me," Kennedy said. And he's right too. As an owner his brutal disposal of trainers during his 40 years in racing has got to be a world record and not even the great Melbourne Cups King was saved from the Wrath of Jack. "In 1972 I was Bart Cummings' number one owner, but I sacked him too,'' he said. And what could possibly be the reason? ‘‘Not enough winners." Harsh.

The beer necessities

WE ALL love a Melbourne Cup day hard luck story but this little tale from the south eastern suburb of Berwick relayed to Pssst on Oaks Day is one for the annals. What was thought to be a massive Melbourne Cup quaddie celebration took a turn for the worse at about 5.17pm on Tuesday when one of the guests confessed to the most fatal and inexcusable sin of communal betting – he failed to put the bet on. Eight guests at the party chipped in $250 and worked out a quaddie that would provide them with 250% of the dividend if successful. They loaded up the first two legs and then put their faith in Nikki Burke's sprinter Unpretentious one out in the third, before coming home on Sydneysider's Mahisara and Mosse Diva in the final leg. One of the guests was dispatched to the local pub TAB to buy a slab and to place the bet, but decided to double up on the beer and risk an unlikely quaddie win. "He reckons they hadn't got near a quaddie in five years so he took the punt on the form and decided to hold the bet," said our informant. Rumour has it that the guest attempted to feign sudden food poisoning following Unpretentious' win in an attempt to vacate the venue in case of success in the final leg, but was unable to shift his better half from her poolside seat. "You'll be right, and plus you boys have got the quaddie going," she reportedly said. Needless to say that friendships became somewhat frayed when the beer-loving punter came clean in light of what should have been a $27,500 collect. The man himself got back in the good books only with a promise to mow the lawns of his seven mates for 12 months.

After the carnival, head to the gym?

PLUMP as a fattened calf after a month of gorging at the bosom of Spring Carnival hospitality, the galloping gourmand rolled into the Pssst office a little worse for wear this week after a final flourish at the feed trough. Having already sampled the wares at renowned Chinese eatery the Flowerdrum, our man was back at the famous haunt of racing heavyweights this week for corporate bookmaker Sportingbet's famous Cup week blow out. "After our first encounter, the Drum and I were always going to have more than a one-night stand. I returned with a rose between my teeth and took Lady Drum by the hand, waltzing through a gastronomic orgy or Roman proportions; if the Romans were Chinese that is," said the GG. "The sautéed lobster was outstanding, the tempura whiting was near perfection, but desert was sublime; probably the best bit of orange I have ever eaten." Needless to say, with the corporate hospitality at an end for another year, many a racing journos will be back to ham sangas and the gym.